Conveyer type grain and material elevator



March 24, 1953 J. c. ALPERS ET AL CONVEYER TYPE GRAIN AND MATERIAL ELEVATOR 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 22, 1950 5 my eh MA J m MM 0 A IN V EN TORS March 24, 1953 J. c. ALPERS ET AL 2,632,556

CONVEYER TYPE GRAIN AND MATERIAL ELEVATOR Filed May 22, 1950 5 Sheets-sheaf s -OIO-QF OOOOOIJJG00000000000000Ooufloooloc John 6. Alp ers N Arnold ,J. A/pers INVENTORS BY Q %4:

Patented Mar. 24, 1953 [UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CONVEYER TYPE GRAIN AND MATERIAL ELEVATOR John C. Alpers and Arnold J. A1pers,'Corder.,.Mo., assignors of one-fifth to N. Dale Alpers and one-fifth to Wesley Alpers, both of (Junior, M0.

Application May 22, 1950, Serial No.'163,524

ner to an elevated position.

The primary object of this invention is to provide a portable and foldable elevator including an endless conveyor mechanism for conveying and elevating materials and commodities to elevated positions.

A further object of the invention is to provide an elevator assembly in conformity with the foregoing object which shall have an improved construction to facilitate compact folding of the parts of the elevator assembly upon itself to facilitate transportation and compact storage of the device.

Yet another object of the invention is toprovidean improved elevator assembly in accordance with the preceding objects which shall comprise a main elevator trough together with an improved means for varyin the inclination of the same, together with pivoted hopper and discharge troughs.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide an improved elevator assembly in accordance with the above mentioned objects wherein the hopper trough and the discharge trough are connected to the ends of the main trough by pivoting connecting troughs to facilitate folding of the same in overlying relation upon the main corporating the principles of thisinvention therein, the same being illustrated in its completely folded and collapsed position for compact storage or transportation;

Figure 2 is a side elevational View of the arrangement of Figure 1, showingthe same in operative position for discharging ears of corn into a granary;

' Figure 3 is a vertical central longitudinal sectional view through the elevatorand conveyor assembly of Figure 2, parts being broken away;

Figure 4 is a top plan view of a portion of the main trough, a connecting trough and the hopper trough of Figure 2, parts being broken away;

Figure 5 is a top plan view of the supporting and adjusting means of the device;

Figure 6 is a fragmentary detail view upon :an enlarged scale, taken substantially upon the plane of the section line 66 of Figure 5 and illustrating more particularly the construction of the adjusting means of the device;

Figure 7 is a vertical sectional view taken sub stantially upon the plane indicated by the sec-' tion line 'l- -I of Figure '2,

Referring now more specifically to the act-som panying drawings, wherein like numerals designate similar parts throughout the various views, it will be seen that the novel portable elevator incorporating the principles of this invention therein comprises a conveyor having a main elevator trough It to the ends of which are pivotally connected a pair of connecting troughs l2 and M, the latter in turn being pivotally connected to a hopper trough It and a discharge trough [-8. The trough assemblies are constructed of any suitable material, lightness in weight, inexpensive construction and strength and rigidity being important characteristics of the same. It is intended that the inclination of the main trough section it] shall be widely varied oradjusted, and for this purpose there is provided a support stand assembly, which as shown in Figures 1, 2, 5 and '7 comprises a pair of legs or supports 20 which are pivoted to the main trough section Ill at its lower end as by a pivot pin 22, and which are provided with a cross bar 24.

Secured to the cross bar 24 at about its midportion, is the front end of a tongue 26, which is preferably of a tubular construction. At a convenient portion upon its length, the upper surface of the tongue 26 is provided with a plurality of longitudinally spaced openings or slots 28 which constitute in effect, a rack section for a purpose which will be later set forth.

Intermediate its ends, the main section It is provided with a pivoted supporting leg assembly, the same comprising a pair "of depending legs 30, whose upper ends are pivoted as at 32 to the main section Ill, and whose lower ends are connected to a horizontally disposed axle 34 upon the ends of which are journaled a pair of supporting wheels 35. The axle and wheel assembly are thus pivoted by means of the supporting legs 30 about their pivot pins 32, and this pivoting movement is controlled and adjusted in order to vary the inclination of the main trough It).

To effect this purpose, the axle 34 is provided 3 with a bracket 38 constituting a guide, the rear portion of the tongue 26 being slidably received in this guide.

A connecting link 40 is pivotally connected at its rear end to the axle 34 in a convenient manner, and at its front end is secured as by bolts 42 to a housing 44 having a tubular sleeve 46 slidably embracing the tongue 26. Within the housing 44, as shown in Figure 6, is journaled a shaft 48 provided with a gear or sprocket 50 having teeth 52 which are selectively engageable in the series of slots or openings 28 in the tongue. At one end, the axle 48 is provided with a handle 54 by means of which the same may be rotated to thus cause controlled travel of the slide along the tongue and by means of a connecting link 40, may cause pivotal movement of the support legs 30 about their pivot pins 32.

It will now be apparent that the support leg assembly may be pivoted relative to the main trough It to incline the same into its operative position shown in Figure 2; or to fold or collapse the same into the stored position shown in Figure 1.

Referring now more specifically to Figures 1-3 for an understanding of the construction of the conveyor trough assembly, it will be apparent that the opposite ends of the side walls 56 of the main trough It embrace the outer surfaces of the ends of the side walls 58 and 60 of the connecting troughs I2 and I4, being secured thereto as by pivot pins 62 and E4. The side walls of the connecting troughs in turn embrace the outer surfaces of the side walls 66 and 68 of the hopper and discharge troughs I6 and I8, being in turn pivoted thereto as by pivot pins and E2. Suitable bottom walls 14, 1'8, 18, 80 and 82 are provided respectively for the main trough ill, the connecting troughs I2 and I4, and the hopper and discharge troughs l6 and Ill.

The hopper trough I6 is provided with an end wall 84 and a sloping bottom wall 85, by means of which material dumped therein will be discharged downwardly to a conveyor assembly to be now described.

The conveyor assembly comprises a pair of endless chains 88 of the sprocket chain type, which are entrained over suitable rollers 96 mounted upon the above mentioned pivot pins .lIl, 62, 64, 12 as well as over similar rollers mounted upon idler axles 92, a driving axle 9 3 having a driving sprocket wheel 95 thereon, and end axles 98 and IE5, the latter being journaled in the hopper chute I6 and being adjustable to properly tension and take up slack in the conveyor chains.

Suitable transversely extending cleats I92 are secured to the chains 86 for movement thereby, the upper flight of the chains riding over a supporting platform 104 formed in each of the conveyor chute sections, as clearly shown in Figure 3.

The driving axle 94 with the driving sprocket 98 is disposed beneath the platforms I04, of the main elevator chute Ill, and drivingly engages between the two idler shafts 92, the lower flight of the conveyor chains.

The axle 94 extends outwardly from the side of the main trough I0, and is provided with a driving pulley Hit which is connected as by a driving belt or the like I98 with any suitable source of power such as an electric motor llfi mounted upon a supporting platform H2 rigidly secured to the underside of the main trough.

Alternatively, the pulley I06 could be driven by any other source of power such as the power take-off of a tractor or the like, it being understood that suitable reduction gearing may be employed wherever desired.

As shown in Figure 3, various portions of the upper flight of the elevating conveyor are held down against the elevator bottom plates I64 as by brackets H4 rigidly mounted upon the bases I84, and having journaled thereon hold down rollers H6. These brackets are positioned preferably at the places where pivotal movement between the connected elevator troughs is to be obtained, in order to insure proper functioning of the elevator and conveyor chain assembly throughout the pivotal adjustment of the conveyor trough assemblies.

The discharge chute I8 is open at its upper end, so that the material elevated by the device can be discharged from between the side walls 68 thereof.

As shown more clearly in Figures 1 and 2, the side walls 60 of the connecting trough I4 are each provided with longitudinally extending connecting link members H8 which are rigidly secured to the side walls as by the above mentioned pivot pins 64 and 12, but extend beyond the same and are provided with fastening apertures I20. lhe adjacent portions of the side walls 56 and 88 of the main chute I0 and the discharge trough I8 are provided with appropriately positioned sets of apertures I22 which are adapted to selectively register with apertures I20 in adjusted angular positions of the connecting chute relative to these side walls. Accordingly, the chute I8 may be positioned to form a straight continuation of the main trough I0; or may be disposed at various angular positions with respect to the same by properly adjusting the registry of the openings I28 with the apertures I22 in both the main trough and the discharge trough side walls.

It will therefore be seen that in all the angular positions which are assumed by the hopper trough, the discharge trough, and the connecting troughs with respect to the various inclinations of the main trough, that the conveyor chain assembly may continue its uninterrupted operation. Further, since the conveyor chain assembly is foldable or pivotal about the various pivot pins which are also the pivot points of the various trough sections, it will be seen that the entire device can be folded from the open position in Figure 2 to the closed or stored position of Figure 1, while proper manipulation of the link 40 by means of the slide 45 upon the tongue 26 will permit raising or folding of the main trough section.

From the foregoing, the construction and op eration of the device will be readily understood together with its many advantages and further explanation is believed to be unnecessary. However, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art after a consideration of the foregoing specification and accompanying drawings, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction shown and described, but all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling Within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus disclosed and described the invention, what is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A portable elevator comprising a main elevator trough, a hopper trough and a discharge trough pivoted to opposite ends of said main trough, an endless conveyor mounted in said troughs, wheeled support legs and a support stand pivoted to said main trough, longitudinally extensible means connected to said stand and to said Wheeled support legs pivoting the latter for adjusting the inclination of said main trough,

said extensible means including a tongue fixed to said support stand and slidably secured to said wheeled support legs, a link connected to said wheeled support legs, adjusting means operatively engaging said link and said tongue.

2. A portable elevator comprising a main elevator trough, a hopper trough and a discharge trough pivoted to opposite ends of said main trough, an endless conveyor mounted in said troughs, wheeled support legs and a support stand pivoted to said main trough, longitudinally extensible means connected to said stand and to said wheeled support legs pivoting the latter for adjusting the inclination of said main trough, said extensible means including a tongue fixed to said support stand and slidably secured to said wheeled support legs, a link connected to said wheeled support legs, adjusting means operatively engaging said link and said tongue, said tongue having a series of longitudinally spaced openings, said adjusting means including a slide mounted on said tongue and connected to said link, a gear rotatably journaled in said slide and having its teeth engageable in said openings.

3. A portable elevator comprising a main elevator trough, a hopper trough and a discharge trough pivoted to opposite ends of said main trough, an endless conveyor mounted in said troughs, wheeled support legs and a support stand pivoted to said main trough, said wheeled support legs being pivoted to said main trough intermediate the ends thereof and said supporting stand being pivoted to said main trough adjacent an end thereof, longitudinally extensible means connected to said stand and to said wheeled support legs pivoting the latter for adjusting the inclination of said main trough, said extensible means including a tongue fixed to said support stand and slidably secured to said wheeled support legs, a link connected to said wheeled support legs, adjusting means operatively engaging 4 said link and said tongue.

4. A portable elevator comprising a main elevator trough, a hopper trough and a discharge trough pivoted to opposite ends of said main trough, an endless conveyor mounted in said trough, wheeled support legs and a support stand pivoted to said main trough, said wheeled support legs being pivoted to said main trough intermediate the ends thereof and said supporting stand being pivoted to said main trough adjacent an end thereof, longitudinally extensible means connected to said stand and to said wheeled support legs pivoting the latter for adjusting the inclination of said main trough, said extensible means including a tongue fixed to said support stand and slidably secured to said wheeled support legs, a link connected to said Wheeled support legs, adjusting means operatively engaging said link and said tongue, said tongue having a series of longitudinally spaced openings, said adjusting means including a slide mounted on said tongue and connected to said link, a gear rotatably journaled in said slide and having its teeth engageable in said openings.

JOHN C. ALPERS. ARNOLD J. ALPERS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,031,850 Harpstrite July 9, 1912 1,340,253 Read May 18, 1920 1,718,227 Gilman June 25, 1929 1,808,237 Liggett June 2, 1931 1,858,089 Howey May 10, 1932 1,898,120 Farmer Feb. 21, 1933 2,285,558 Bisset June 9, 1942 2,477,790 Farr Aug. 2, 1949 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 77,304 Austria July 25, 1919 

